Cal Dealt Road Loss At Santa Clara

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Joel Brown and Lars Thiemann both scored in double figures but California came up short in a 71-62 defeat on the road against Santa Clara at the Leavey Center on Sunday afternoon.

The Golden Bears (0-12) were disjointed in the second half without leading scorer Devin Askew, who suffered an injury with a little more than three minutes remaining before halftime and did not return. Brown scored eight of his season-high 13 points in the second half as Cal tried to make a shorthanded rally but it was not enough.

Brandin Podziemski totaled 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead Santa Clara (11-3) to its third straight win.

A transition layup by Grant Newell with 7:36 left in the first half capped a 7-0 run and gave Cal a 20-16 advantage, but that was quickly erased as Santa Clara scored 14 of the next 16 on its way to a 34-25 halftime lead. Eight different Bears scored in the first half but no single player had more than five points.

Twice Brown had layups in the second half to get Cal within four points and a pair of made free throws by Sam Alajiki pulled Cal within 65-60 with 1:20 to play. A 3-pointer by the Broncos’ Keshaw Justice on the next possession quelled Cal’s final comeback effort.

Santa Clara shot 47 percent from the floor and was able to convert 17 Cal turnovers into 16 points. The Bears finished 44.9 percent (22-of-49) from the floor.

Thiemann finished with 10 points and six rebounds while Brown added six assists, three rebounds and three steals to go along with his 13 points.

UP NEXT

The Bears conclude nonconference play by hosting UT Arlington on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. PST. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.

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